So Terry Collins, who all along has been up front and forthright in talking about Mets injuries, has been told to impersonate a clam when it comes to things medical and make no comments.

That sat about as well with Collins as blown save because a team source said the manager was downright irate about being told he could not discuss Mets injury matters.

So Collins did the good-soldier routine at his pregame press gathering before the Mets’ 6-5 loss to the Padres on Wednesday night. He was asked if he were worried about Jay Bruce who wasn’t in the starting lineup. Bruce had left Tuesday’s game with lower back tightness. The outfielder then said before Wednesday’s game, “I don’t think it’s serious.”

Collins was asked if he felt that as well.

“No disrespect. I’m not going to get into the injury stuff,” Collins said.

A few moments later, Collins was asked about Bruce again.

“I’m not at liberty to discuss any injury situation. He’ll be in there when he’s in there,” said Collins.

OK, so could Collins at least acknowledge if Bruce were available to pinch hit?

“No.”

To be clear, that was a “no” from Collins about whether he could comment, not a no about Bruce’s availability.

The Mets over the years have been hammered for their handling of injuries, often with blame going from top to bottom, to the medical staff and the training staff. With an inordinate number of disabled list occupants this season, the criticism has continued, especially with regard to Yoenis Cespedes and Noah Syndergaard.

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When Syndergaard was found to have a partially torn lat muscle following his exit from a game after he declined to undergo an MRI exam, general manager Sandy Alderson at a press conference insisted he had “absolute confidence” in the advice and information he received from the team’s medical staff.

Recently, at his customary start-of-homestand, end-of-road trip press briefing, Alderson indicated there would be changes in the Mets’ approach to all injuries. Alderson revealed he would meet daily with the medical folks “to provide context for the decisions that we have to make from day to day.”

The general manager didn’t indicate Collins would have to be a mime, however.

Collins’ pregame session Wednesday ended with a simple question regarding Cespedes, who has been taking swings and undergoing a running program in Florida. Any idea when he might return from his hamstring injury?

Collins, as recently as Tuesday, said “soon,” indicating the slugger was mere days away. But this time?